In order to ensure the effective operation of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Shika-Zaria, Kaduna, as well as the completion of phase II of the National Eye Centre Kaduna Institute of Ophthalmology, the House of Representatives has requested that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Development undertake rehabilitation, provide necessary equipment, and hire qualified staff.
Additionally, the house requested that the government create an emergency 2024 supplemental budget estimate for the completion of phase two of the National Eye Centre Kaduna by 2025 and the renovation of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaira.
In plenary on Thursday, July 11, the house adopted a resolution on notice by Hussaini Muhammad Jallo, ordering its relevant committees to evaluate the two health facilities’ needs and report back to the house.
Hon. Jallo, who chaired the motion’s debate, stated that the two institutions’ goals were to teach medical professionals, treat patients with specialised care, and conduct research to further our understanding of medicine.
He voiced his concerns that the hospital, which treats patients from Kaduna and nearby states, is overworked and under equipped to operate at peak efficiency, particularly in vital departments like the Accident and Emergency (A&E) division.
He also voiced concern about the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika Zaria, which was previously well-known for its excellence but is now in disrepair and may soon go extinct because the majority of its equipment is broken or outdated.
According to him, patients are frequently referred to private hospitals, which they typically cannot afford, which contributes to the rising death rate.
He also cites the need to fully renovate the National Eye Centre Kaduna and complete Phase II of the Eye Centre as assigned in the original master plan, as well as the inadequate specialised care for such cases in public hospitals.
He voiced his concerns about the rising illness rates at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Shika, Zaria, which he attributed to a shortage of medical professionals and supplies.
He also voiced his concerns on the lack of specialists at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika Zaria, Kaduna, including cardiovascular percussionists, anaesthetists, and heart surgeons, as well as the National Eye Centre Kaduna’s complete renovation and equipment (Institute of Ophthalmology).
Why this matters?
The proposed emergency supplemental budget for 2024 underscores the urgency of these improvements, as the current state of disrepair and inadequate resources in these institutions hampers their effectiveness and contributes to higher mortality rates.
This move by the House underscores the importance of investing in healthcare infrastructure to ensure better patient outcomes and reduce the burden on overworked public hospitals.
